Change Ubuntu Login Screen

One of the joys of using Ubuntu is the ability to easily customize even the most obscure features of the operating system and the login screen included with the default GDM theme is no exception. As with most light Linux tweaks, this one is quite straight-forward.

There is a utility included with Ubuntu that allows quick and easy customization of options within the GDM theme titled gdmsetup; you can run this utility directly from the main menu by looking under System -> Admin -> Login Window.

You’ll need to enter your admin password to gain access, then click on the tab labeled “Local” to see theme options. Under the section labelled “Style” you can select one of three main presets: Plain, Themed or Face Browser. Select “Themed” to gain the ability to select any graphic you like from the provided list along with several other default GNOME themes that may suit your fancy – customization is always great but you have to admit that the default GDM theme is a pretty attractive piece!

Share this:

Like this:

Related

There is no suck “Local”, “Style”, Themed” options in the “System -> Admin -> Login Screen” in Ubuntu 9.10. How does one change the login screen in it?

SC

March 7, 2010 at 3:43 pm

That is all very nice but when I follow your instructions: System Menu -> Admin -> Login Screen (not “window”). I do not get any of the options you describe. There are no tabs on the window.

jason

March 8, 2010 at 4:55 am

SC~
I read over the post on changing the log in screen. I think the instructions cited are for Ubuntu 9.04 and older versions.
starting in the 9.10 version of Ubuntu (the most current one) the log in window can only be changed via a complex set of steps that essentially installs a second (older) version of the GDM (Gnome Display Manager) log in screen.

I’ve been using Ubuntu since the Dapper days (like 4+ years ago) and think I’m fairly able to do many things in Ubuntu. Yet I finally found instructions on changing the log in screen and found them overly complex and risky…

Much as I hate to say it, I think it’s safest to just leave the boring log in screen as is :(
~j

Bahra

March 8, 2010 at 5:16 am

Customizing the login USED to be possible in older Ubuntu’s versions. It is not possible anymore since version Karmic Koala, october 2009 !

Hi well the option to change the login screen was great in Jaunty jackalope. But with the current version that option isnt there. There is no use playing around with the gdm and gdm 2.20 display managers since thats legacy (gdm 2.20) for karmic. So let us just hope the next version has something on this..

Splifftor

April 14, 2010 at 6:10 pm

if u want to change the login screen in ubuntu 9.1 here u go: (doesn’t work for 10.04 however)

In order to change the XSplash screen in Ubuntu Karmic Koala follow these steps:

1. Open nautilus as root by typing ‘gksu nautilus’ at the run prompt (Alt + F2).

2. Download the XSplash archive that you want to use and move the content of the archive to /usr/share/images/xsplash folder.

Note: Make sure that you take the back up of your current XSplash, by copying the default files to some safe location before copying the new XSplash theme files.

Once you have installed the new XSplash theme you can check how it looks by typing the following command at the terminal.

sudo xsplash

this also enables you to change the throbber etc

tom

July 20, 2010 at 7:33 pm

Changing the login screen for 10.04 is murder, however modifying the splash screen is pretty easy:

System menu-> Preferences-> Art Manager

You’ll have to satisfy yourself with that I’m afraid… unless you want a whole lot of hassle!

How about for Ubuntu Meerkat 10.10? I can’t seen to change it from using the last wallpaper image of a flower and bat, at least I guess that’s what it is. I installed various splash stuff and start-up manager, but I’m still stuck.